"Poetry" wins rave reviews at Cannes screening

Published on 2010/05/20 | Source

The cast and director of "Poetry" at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival [Asia Economic Daily]

Korean film "Poetry", competing at the Cannes Film Festival this year, won favorable reviews at its first screenings yesterday.

The movie was first screened in the morning at the Grand Theatre Lumiere attended by some 2,000 viewers composed of film journalists and industry officials from around the world.

Most of the audience remained until the ending credits went up despite its long running time of 139 minutes although a few people were seen exiting the theater toward the end of the film.

"The running time was a bit long but overall, the movie stood out and Yoon Jung-hee's acting in particular was great", explained a French reporter in his 40s.

Another journalist, a German man in his 30s, complimented Yoon's acting adding, "I think she'll be a strong candidate for best actress".

Later in the day, "Poetry" was shown at the Gala screening where it received an eight-minute standing ovation once the ending credits began to roll and continued until director Lee Chang-dong and actress Yoon Jung-hee left the theatre.

The film attracted a lengthier applause than its Korean competitor "The Housemaid - 2010" which received four to five minutes of accolade during its Gala screening the previous day.

An associate from the production company of "Poetry" was quoted saying, "We got great reviews from both screenings. The cast of the movie will be attending the after party and be able to talk with the viewers".

Film critics and reporters present at the Gala screening gave the movie high marks, going as far to say it is a strong candidate for the prestigious Palme d'Or award, as well as its heroine for the best actress title.

"Poetry", helmed by noted filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, is about Mija (played by Yoon) who takes poetry classes and writes her own poems while battling Alzheimer's disease.

The cast and director of "Poetry" at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival [Asia Economic Daily]